Phorbol esters alter alpha4 and alphad integrin usage during eosinophil adhesion to VCAM-1.

We examined the effect of the protein kinase C activator phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) on the human eosinophil adhesion molecule phenotype and attachment to VCAM-1 via alpha4 and alphad integrins under static and flow conditions. PMA increased surface expression of alphad integrins and decreased alpha4 integrin expression. Under static conditions, eosinophils bound well to VCAM-1, primarily via alpha4beta1 integrins, with a minor alphadbeta2 integrin component. Unexpectedly, PMA-stimulated eosinophils bound equally well to VCAM-1 and albumin in a temperature- and divalent cation-dependent manner, yet adhesion was independent of beta1 and beta2 integrins. Under flow conditions, eosinophils readily attached to VCAM-1, and adhesion was inhibited by both alpha4 and alphad mAbs (95 and 50% inhibition, respectively). Many fewer PMA-stimulated eosinophils bound to VCAM-1 under flow conditions, but both alpha4 and alphad mAbs inhibited adhesion equally. Thus, PMA alters eosinophil integrin expression and the relative contributions of alpha4 and alphad integrins during attachment to VCAM-1.

Eotaxin-2 alters eosinophil integrin function via mitogen-activated protein kinases.

Adhesion molecules and chemokines contribute to selective eosinophil recruitment in allergic inflammation. In this study, we examined the effects of eotaxin-2, a CCR3-specific chemokine, on integrin-mediated eosinophil adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), or both using a parallel plate flow system. Tissue culture plates were coated with various combinations of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and/or eotaxin-2. Human eosinophils were infused at physiologic shear stress (0.5 dyn/cm(2)) for 10 min, and the numbers of attached eosinophils were monitored using video microscopy. Cells accumulated efficiently on VCAM-1 and even better on surfaces co-coated with VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, but poorly on surfaces coated with ICAM-1 or bovine serum albumin alone. When eotaxin-2 was co-immobilized with adhesion proteins, fewer cells adhered to VCAM-1 and more adhered to ICAM-1, whereas levels of attachment to VCAM-1 plus ICAM-1 showed no net change. However, experiments with adhesion molecule blocking monoclonal antibody showed that the contribution of ICAM-1-mediated adhesion was always greater if eotaxin-2 was present. Pretreatment of cells with a CCR3-blocking mAb, or PD98059, a MAP-kinase inhibitor, prevented the eotaxin-2-induced changes in eosinophil attachment. These data suggest that eotaxin-2, acting via MAP kinases, may facilitate eosinophil recruitment at sites of allergic inflammation by shifting their adhesion molecule usage away from VCAM-1-dominated to ICAM-1-dominated pathways.